Social Network Theory in Project Management: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Purpose: This study employs a bibliometric analysis of project management literature from 2001 to 2022 to investigate the use of social network theory in project management. The main goal is not only to present the current state of the social network theory usage in project management but also to explore emerging trends of this new field in project management. Methodology: Bibliometric analysis is used by focusing on related articles between the years 2001-2022 in the Web of Science database to investigate the state and evolution of social network theory in project management. Cluster analysis which is a powerful tool employed in SNA (Social Network Analysis) is utilized for the grouping of items based on similarities or distances between them. Findings: The study revealed that although the Social Network Theory (SNT) approach in project management is gaining popularity, its implementation remains limited. The literature primarily focused on specific project types, such as construction projects, while neglecting others that involve multiple stakeholders and relationships, such as innovation, R&D, IT, space, and agricultural projects. Moreover, the study identified that SNT is predominantly used in three knowledge areas, namely, risk management, stakeholder management, and knowledge management. Implications: Understanding the SNT approach in project management can help project managers create more effective teams, improve stakeholder engagement, foster collaboration and innovation, and mitigate project risks. Limitations: This study is limited to Web of Science database. Future research may extend our efforts by digging into more databases.